Head of Operations and Business Support

Edinburgh World Heritage is seeking to recruit a new Head of Operations and Business Support.

A member of the Senior Management team, you will be responsible for the smooth management and running of a charitable company committed to the protection, enhancement and promotion of the Old and New Towns World Heritage Site.

You will be an experienced manager with considerable finance and administrative experience, with a strong knowledge of digital and HR operations. You will also be experienced in working within a charity structure and will share our passion for Edinburgh as both a heritage city but also as a fantastic place to live and work.

St Andrew’s First Aid is Scotland’s leading first aid charity, dedicated to saving lives and strengthening community resilience through high-quality training and volunteer-led services. With a proud history spanning over 140 years. The organisation provides first aid cover at thousands of events each year and plays a vital role in national and emergency response and public safety across the country. Through a nationwide network of committed volunteers and professional staff, St Andrew’s First Aid delivers first aid training to individuals, communities and workplaces, while supporting major public events by providing surge capacity during national events and emergencies.

The Executive Team is now seeking a Head of Volunteer Operations as the organisation are entering an important period of development. You will be passionate about delivering a high-quality experience to all our volunteers and galvanising the staff team to deliver and support this. The role will have a strong focus on building and strengthening our volunteer infrastructure, enhancing operational resilience and modernising systems that support service delivery across Scotland. This is a pivotal opportunity to shape the future of volunteer-led first aid services within a respected national charity.

Reporting to the Executive Director of Operations and Business Development and working closely with the Chief Executive and Executive Management Team, the Head of Volunteer Operations will provide strategic and operational leadership for St Andrew’s First Aid’s volunteer-led services across Scotland.

You will be responsible for ensuring a resilient, inclusive and high-performing volunteer workforce that is recruited, trained, deployed and supported to deliver safe, high-quality first aid services at events, in communities and during major incidents. The role spans the full volunteer lifecycle alongside responsibility for operational planning, rostering, safeguarding, clinical governance alignment, logistics and partnership working with key stakeholders including event organisers, local authorities and emergency services. The role also involves working collegiately with our Head of Commercial Training.

A central focus will be strengthening organisational readiness for peak demand and emergency response. You will lead service improvement initiatives, embed strong systems and performance frameworks, oversee budgets for volunteer operations, and develop robust risk management and business continuity plans. You will also champion digital solutions that enhance efficiency and the volunteer experience.

The successful candidate will be an experienced operational leader with a background in volunteer services or comparable safety-critical environments such as charities, emergency services, healthcare or major events. You will bring strong strategic and operational planning skills, alongside a sound understanding of safeguarding, governance and service quality.

You will be confident leading dispersed teams of staff and volunteers, able to influence senior stakeholders and partners, and comfortable working at Executive and Board level. Above all, you will combine operational experience with emotional intelligence and strong values, remaining calm under pressure and committed to creating an inclusive and supportive culture where volunteers can thrive.

This is a rare opportunity to lead and shape a national volunteer operation at a time of transformation, ensuring that communities across Scotland continue to benefit from high-quality, volunteer-led first aid services when they need them most.